Sir Percy Blakeney, Chauvelin, and heoism...

[fajrdrako]

I love The Scarlet Pimpernel. One of the most romantic books ever written; one of the most romantic movies ever made. I like the Anthony Andrews version (with Ian McKellen as Chauvelin) best, which tends to horrify the Leslie Howard fans - which is okay, since Leslie Howard is wonderful and I like that version too. I hated the Richard E. Grant Pimpernel, but can't completely discount that version because Martin Shaw, Elizabeth McGovern, Denise Black and Jamie Bamber were all so good that it compensated for having a dead-loss Pimpernel.

Sir Percy Blakeney is one of the literary progenitors of Francis Crawford of Lymond, which would appeal even if he had nothing else going for him. But he does. All that muted heroism, all that deception and being misjudged... Ahhh. He's yet another heroic con man of the style I love so much.

So why am I happy that when I do the "Which character are you in The Scarlet Pimpernel meme, I get the villain? Well, maybe because Chauvelin is such a wonderful villain, so beautifully charismatic when done by McKellen or Shaw, such a Grey Eminence powerhouse....




This test brought to you by Blakeney Manor.

Find out:Which Scarlet Pimpernel character are you?

Cool beans!

(Later, you become Magneto and square off in a really big chess game against Patrick Stewart, which leads to some serious re-grouping and you decide to mend your evil ways and travel back to the time of Middle Earth where you become Gandalf the Grey and help all the little people.)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And, I add, earlier you were a curly-haired Professional who got to shoot big guns and run a lot and hang out with Bodie, the best partner ever.

Comments

[gillo]

The characters are wonderful, though Orczy's writing sets my teeth on edge at times (Why is Sir Percy

always

"inane"?)Chauvelin is a cool villain, though, if not quite in the Reid Malet league...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Now, there's a challenge for you - Chauvelin vs Gabriel - who would take over Scotland first?

[teenygozer.livejournal.com]

I have seen the Scarlet Pimpernel musical on Broadway (FABULOUS!) and in Boston (not so good, they had the nerve to edit out an entire song and bits of other songs to bring the length down so we could all get home before the Boston trains shut down.) Oddly enough, the Scarlet Pimpernel was played by the character's understudy in the Broadway production, a last-minute substitution when the lead went down with flu, and he was incredible, what a voice! I can't imagine the role being played better by the original actor! Just so very alive and lively and bouncing with joy and mischief, a GREAT SP and a droll Sir Percy. I wish I could remember the guy's name. Looked a lot like John Barrowman, but I don' think it was him.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I have the CD of the show but I've never, to my sorrow, seen the Broadway musical version. And I hope to. Someday, somehow. And I was just thinking - wouldn't Barrowman be wonderful in that role?

I love that thought!

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

There's a musical? Oh my god. :( I need it.

[teenygozer.livejournal.com]

Gotta love the internet: Bryan Batt was the understudy who shone bright as a replacement Sir Percy/Pimpernel. I found the "official" Broadway site and they had all the cast lists for every version of the show, including understudies, and I recognized his name immediately.

Also, the savage editing I witnessed was due to vast changes made in the show in an attempt to make it more popular, as it foundered quite a bit. There are in fact four distinct versions/reworkings of the show: it seems I saw SP2 on Broadway if I saw the version with Batt.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I looked Bryan Batt up online and he looks terrific.

More popular? I'd heard the show was tremendously popular on Broadway; must be just that my circle of Pimpernel-loving friends loved it. Four versions? I want to see them all!

[cionaudha.livejournal.com]

You are Sir Andrew Ffoulkes!

The Scarlet Pimpernel's right arm, you are brave, trustworthy, and reliable. You are loyal to your friends in the League and never shirk a good adventure. You are just so spiffing that if you were a Boy Scout, you'd have made Eagle by now. You don't mind a little mud and dirt, but enjoy a good
meal and a bath.

Kudos to you!


I am going to spiff now!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Hee!

[elebridith]

I haven't read the book yet, but the CD of the musical is on my to-buy-list. Would love to see the whole thing, but sadly it's one of those you rarely get to see...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I should reread the book. I'd already seen at least two movie versions when I read it. It's old-fashioned but there's so much about it that I loved... I read a number of the sequels, too. Loved the setting and the tone.

As for the Broadway show - on Sunday F. Murray Abraham was talking about how the immediate and ephemeral qualities of live theatre was part of its pleasure, and that's true, but there's a flip side to that: that if you don't get to go to a production, if you can't get to London or Toronto or New York to see these things - you're pretty much out of luck because when it's over, it's over. And each production is unique.

I did see the non-musical stage play, and found it very boring.

[cynthia1960.livejournal.com]

Mmmm. Anthony Andrews. Mmmmm. Ian McKellen.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Delicous stuff.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

I loved the Grant version. (Especially Suzanne Bertish… ;-D)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

All the pictures I can find of her online, she's Cleopatra. Which is cool. Was she Margeurite?

[chazzbanner.livejournal.com]

Umm..! I bought the paperback of that very Scarlet Pimpernel, because of the McKellen-as-Chauvelin photos. :-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

That is absolutely the sensible thing to do.

[catalenamara.livejournal.com]

I hated the Richard E. Grant Pimpernel, but can't completely discount that version because Martin Shaw, Elizabeth McGovern, Denise Black and Jamie Bamber were all so good that it compensated for having a dead-loss Pimpernel.

Isn't *that* the truth! But I was so happy with Martin and the rest of the cast that I was able to overlook Grant.

I *loved* the musical - I wish they would film stage plays; I'd love to have a copy of this.

The Scarlet Pimpernel

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't go so far as I say I could overlook Grant - quite frankly, he made me cringe - but I loved everything else about the show so I enjoyed it anyway.

I'm hoping the stage musical version will come to Ottawa one day - or I'll find myself in a city that plays it.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

So, you're Ian McKellen under the skin. Doesn't surprise me a bit.

Those images of him are utter art. Beautiful in so many ways.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

He has a wonderful face, doesn't he?

I'd like to be Magneto, or Magneto-like - I don't think I fit the bill, but it's a nice thought!

[duncanmac.livejournal.com]

Like cionaudha, I too wound up as "Sir Andrew Ffoulkes".

Is there a pattern here? :-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

A pattern? Depends how you interpret the characters, I imagine.

WHAT A SURPRISE - not

[lilithlotr.livejournal.com]

This test brought to you by Blakeney Manor.

Find out:Which Scarlet Pimpernel character are you? (http://www.blakeneymanor.com/test/sctest.html)

Re: WHAT A SURPRISE - not

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

LOL - yes, things are just as they should be!

[timberwuf.livejournal.com]

Ahh, but you forgot, in the meantime he became one of those Kings of England, the one who accidentally got offed by Blackadder in the very first episode. Hmmm. Celebrity Deathmatch: Ian McKellen as Richard III against Kenneth Branagh as Hamlet. Neaah. Too easy. Ian wins.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Too easy. Ian wins.

Yes - but wouldn't it be fun to watch?

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

Oh dear lord, woman, Andrews' Pimpernel is my favorite thing ever. I own and love that version. Everyone is great in it, and yes, I love Ian, hehe.

I didn't like the Grant version personally.

I came out Margaurite. I want to be Percy.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Margeurite is the next best thing, no?

[star-momma.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes, Scarlet Pimpernel! Of course, I'm biased since I'm the list owner of the unofficial Anthony Andrews fan club (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AnthonyAndrewsFanClub) :)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Oooh yummy.